‘I was bullied as a kid’

Freelance journalist Stacy Lipson writes poignantly about what it was like to be bullied as a kid. Her story is heart-breaking and — perhaps since she’s apparently a well-adjusted adult — hopeful, too.

The many comments from readers add depth and insight to the piece.

As the abuse continued, I found myself wondering if there was something horrendously wrong with me. When I pounded my pillow at night, I wondered what I had done to make them hate me so. Was it the speech problem I had as a child, where I would accidentally slur my words? Or the way I did my hair, pulled up in a ponytail?

Perhaps more adults who were bullied should be so honest. Perhaps the now-grown bullies should also tell their stories. Perhaps we need a more expansive conversation about bullying.